Top 12: Best Small Convertible Cars For Each Occasion
25th Jun 2024
Choosing the right convertible car for you
Convertible cars are a great choice if you want to maximise driving enjoyment and enjoy the weather. A variety of manufacturers offer a convertible in their range, meaning you have plenty to choose from.
In order to help you choose the right type of convertible car for you, we've highlighted our top recommendations below and split them into three categories:
Best small convertible cars
Small convertible cars prove you don't need to spend a lot of money to get the roof down. Especially convenient for driving in the city, the models below are excellent options if you’re looking to enjoy the weather whilst cruising on urban roads.
Audi A3 Cabriolet
If you’re looking for a stylish car that combines performance and refinement, the Audi A3 Cabriolet is worth checking out. This compact vehicle offers a great experience with excellent materials used to build the cabin.
Available in two powertrains, petrol and diesel, the A3 Cabriolet displays a blend of great performance and excellent fuel economy even for the starter version of 138bhp 1.4-litre TFSI. Comfortable to drive, the A3 has precise steering and great handling.
The lightweight fabric used for the roof can be an asset, considering that some competitors have a folding metal roof that adds on extra weight to the vehicle, making them less fuel efficient.
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Fiat 500C
Identical to the best-selling Fiat 500, known for being an excellent compact city car, it was introduced a full-length retractable sunroof to the 500C.
Available with four engines, the entry level trim called 'Pop', comes with fully electric sunroof, windows, mirrors, and adjustable steering wheel.
There are options of petrol and diesel powered engines, and in both cases the Fiat 500C present an excellent performance that is enhanced by the vehicle’s small dimensions which result in agility. The newer models are available as full-electric.
MINI Convertible
Available with three petrol engines, the MINI Convertible is definitely an excellent choice if you’re looking for performance. The entry level trim offers a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, that provides an smooth driving experience, but if acceleration is what you’re after, both of the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engines can go from resting to 62mph in under seven seconds.
Technology wise, the Convertible is equipped with an 8.8-inch infotainment system as standard which allows smartphone mirroring, facilitating connectivity.
The rear seats are foldable allowing the expansion of storage space, but if you have a family, you can fit two car seats in back.
Smart fortwo Cabrio
Convenient for parking in busy cities with limited space, the smart fortwo Cabrio is a two-seater available with a 1.0-litre petrol engine offering 70bhp, or a 900cc turbocharged engine, also powered by petrol, that offers 89bhp.
Both engines are cheap to run, and can do up to 65.7mpg and 67.3mpg respectively.
Storage space is quite decent. It can hold up to 260 litres, impressive considering that the whole vehicle only measures 2.69 metres.
If you’re wondering if it’s comfortable to ride in such small car, the simple answer is yes. The driver and passenger seats are spacious, providing enough leg and headroom, even with the sunroof up.
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Best luxury convertible cars
Luxury cars are always going to be desirable since there's something elegant about convertibles. The models below are stylish, comfortable and have that extra spice only provided by luxury brands.
Audi A5 Cabriolet
Available with 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, the Audi A5 Cabriolet can go from resting to 62mph in under eight seconds. Even though this isn’t the cheapest vehicle to run, the fuel economy can range from 32.8 to 48.7mpg.
It’s possible to notice the elegance and the upmarket feel with the high-quality materials used to build the cabin. The 12.3-inch infotainment system is easy to use, and MMI (Multi Media Interface) system has several sub-menus that facilitate navigation.
Even though the sunroof folds down at the back of the vehicle, comfort isn’t sacrificed in the rear seats. Passengers still have plenty of leg and headroom, and it’s still possible for children and smaller adults to remain comfortable on long journeys.
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BMW Z4
Comfortable and practical, the BMW Z4 is a sophisticated alternative if you’re on the market for a convertible that is also fun to drive.
There are two petrol engines to choose from. The 2.0-litre petrol engine offers 194bhp and the 3.0-litre offers 335bhp and is capable of accelerating to 62mph from rest in 4.5 seconds.
With plenty of legroom, the Z4 has a spacious cabin and large storage space for a car of this size. The boot’s capacity is 281 litres and this size doesn’t change when the sunroof is lowered down.
Jaguar F-TYPE Convertible
When you think of luxury cars, the name Jaguar may be one of the first that pop to mind. The F-TYPE Convertible is no exception, thanks to the beautifully designed and well-equipped range of vehicles produced by the manufacturer.
With a design that resembles the elegance of the olden days and technology that makes us realise we’re in the present, the door sills were created to allow an elegant entrance to the vehicle. Inside, the cabin cocoons your body into a perfect driving and riding position.
There are three petrol engines to choose from. The entry level 2.0-litre 4-cylinder offers 296bhp and is perfect for cruising however the 5.0-litre V8 engines give a more powerful acceleration offering 443bhp or 567bhp.
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Mercedes-Benz SLC
Pioneer in hard sunroof tops, Mercedes changed the way people perceived convertibles when it decided to abandon the fabric roof for the SLK back in the 90s. If you’re looking for class and groundbreaking design, you should consider the evolution of the SLK, the Mercedes-Benz SLC.
With a choice of three petrol engines and one diesel, SLC’s main focus is comfort and excellent driving experience instead of exhilarating acceleration. You can find an 1.6-litre 4-cylinder as an entry level engine and a 3.0-litre V6, that offers 357bhp, at the top of the range.
When looking inside the cabin, the interior of the vehicle looks old school, which is ideal for those looking for a vintegy feel. It does, however, have a 7-inch infotainment system that is accompanied by several physical buttons, which complements the feel of the design.
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Best sporty convertible cars
Sporty vehicles are known for delivering high performance and are ideal for those looking to maximise the driving thrills. The models below are known for their appealing design and fast speed.
Audi TT Roadster
Considered one of the ‘go-to’ sporty convertibles, the Audi TT Roadster presents a stylish design that appeals to lovers of coupé styles. The minimalistic interior contrasts the sharp styling of the TT Roadster but the fact that the manufacturer opted for a simpler visual for the cabin that there’s no sophisticated tech to be shown.
Equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, the infotainment system provides connectivity to your smartphone, you can access your sat nav among many other exciting features. The 280-litre boot can be useful to carry a few bags, but as per usual with convertibles, there’s limited storage space.
There are a wide range of engines to choose from. Starting with a 1.8-litre petrol powered engine that offers 178bhp to a 2.5-litre that offers 395bhp. If you’re after a diesel powered engine, you can go for 2.0-litre that offers 181bhp.
BMW 2 Series Convertible
With a stylish exterior design that emphasises a budging bodywork, the BMW 2 Series Convertible is an excellent option if you’re on the market for a smaller car. Even though this model leans more towards the dainty side, it doesn’t mean that driving it is uncomfortable.
The cabin presents decent legroom for driver and passenger and it does have storage space for both front occupants, although it could be challenging to store a whole lot in this particular model.
When looking inside the cabin, you’ll find that everything was made with the highest quality materials, the design of the 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sharp graphics and very responsively.
Petrol and diesel engines are available for this model. You can choose between the entry level 3-cylinder petrol engine up to the 6-cylinder top of range. For those interested in a diesel engine, there are two options: 218d which offers 148bhp and 220d that offers 187bhp.
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Mazda MX-5
Mazda’s MX-5 is a long-time favourite of sports cars lovers and has become one of the most recognisable in the category. The fact that you can choose whether your car comes with a regular soft-top sunroof or a folding metal one adds to the model’s versatility.
Available with 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines, where the entry level trim offers 129bhp and the later 158bhp.
Perfect for long journeys, the seats were design to snug the driver and passenger providing a sense of comfort throughout the trip, and the seats were positioned ergonomically to allow easy reach to the 8.8-inch infotainment system.
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Porsche Boxster
Top of mind when it comes to sporty convertibles, the Porsche Boxster displays a classic design that resembles the original features from when it was first released two decades ago. At a quick glance, it’s hard to see the differences between the 718 and the original model. It's only when you look further do you see the evolution of this balanced sports car.
Equipped with an 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has Bluetooth, DAB radio and sat nav pre-installed to facilitate connectivity, you can also mirror your phone with Apple CarPlay.
Available with four petrol engines that range from a 2.0-litre flat-four that offers 295bhp, to the 4.0-litre flat-six that offer 388bhp, you’ll certainly find the perfect engine for the type of performance you need.
Our associates are here to help you
Choosing the right car for your needs can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn't need to be.
If you haven't found the right car for you on our website, then please feel free to visit one of our Evans Halshaw dealers where one of our friendly associates will be more than happy to discuss your requirements and then make a recommendation that they think is right for you.
Alternatively, you can browse our used cars to see if there are any cars that you like the look of.
